Common public speaking problems

    The use of “I feel”, “I think” and “maybe”

    In the question-and –answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like “I feel”, “I hear”, “maybe” and “perhaps”. These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence. Instead of the empty-sounding “I guess”, using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

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    Don't stick to the same tone. It can be boring. Try to mix it up. For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles tighter. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} , rather than just sticking with the same one.

    Irresponsible answers

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . you're responsible for your words. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish. So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy(盗版), started by saying he supported it.

    Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

    You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} . is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

    Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

A. Try mixing more than one style.

B. Improving your communication skill.

C. Using only one speaking style

D. It's important to involve your audience.

E. Public speaking is different from personal conversations.

F. The key is to work out what question is being asked

G. To the judges and audience, this lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable.

iPads vs. Textbooks

    What if you could have your whole backpack at the touch of your fingertips? In the first month of the Apple iPads release, 25million were sold! People all over the world use iPads for all sorts of different things, but one of their finest qualities is the ability to be a textbook. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    To begin with, iPad are less expensive. Textbooks become outdated and schools have to buy new books, but with an iPad schools can update them for free. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Schools don't have to spend $500 every year for iPads because they last a while and can be updated.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Students usually have multiple classes, which results in multiple textbooks. Heavy backpacks filled with books can cause back problem. A solution to that is an iPad, which only weighs 1.33 pounds and can hold all of a student's textbooks.

    Third, schools should get rid of their textbooks and get iPads because they have more capabilities. Some might think all of the apps are distracting, but the apps actually make iPads more efficient. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Textbooks cannot do those tasks, but iPads can easily do them with just a tap of the fingertip.

    Lastly, iPads are a better choice for schools instead of textbooks because these devices allow students to access their learning anywhere at any time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} With iPads, they find it easier to get their homework done.

    In conclusion, schools should get rid of their clumsy textbooks and switch to iPads. iPads have allowed this generation to have their entire backpack in the palm of their hands.

These tablets are perfect for busy students.

B. Second, iPads cost less and are more popular.

C. Therefore, they can use the saved money for other programs.

D. iPads have already replaced textbooks in over 600 American counties.

E. Moreover, in high school, textbooks have an average of 4.8 pounds each.

F. Schools have every reason to do away with their school books and switch to iPads.

G. iPads absorb the need to buy calculators, dictionaries, and other items that are found within the device.

    Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Second,your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test.Third,note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}whenever or however you take notes,keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The following methods may work best for you.

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

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    Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes,you may want to use your own shorthand(速记).When you do,be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Use words,not complete sentences.

B.There are three practical note-taking methods.

C.You must write your notes on separate paper.

D.Otherwise,you may not be able to read your notes later.

E.You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F.That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G.First,the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

    Many college students don't know what they're missing by not taking part in the student clubs and organizations that are offered at most colleges and universities. Taking part in one can be a rich and rewarding experience.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Check them out and see what's available. Here are a few reasons why you should take part in student clubs and organizations.

    Meet new people.

    It can be hard to meet new people in college, especially in your first year.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}However, in a club, you'll find yourself in a smaller group of people who likely share your interest.

    Help your major.

    There are many student clubs and organizations for different majors and departments. Such clubs can be a lot of fun as well as a great academic resource for you. By joining an academic club you will probably have an easier time to know professors in your departments.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Learn important leadership skills.

    Student clubs and organizations can be a good way to learn important leadership skills that would look great on job applications{#blank#}4{#/blank#}These skills could be event planning, finance management, and so on. Find a club that you love being a part of and if you work hard you might be able to gain such a position.

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    Lastly, student clubs and organizations can simply be a lot of fun. Make sure to take advantage of student clubs and organizations to make the most of your time in college!

A．Have fun.

B．Class sizes can be big.

C．Never waste energy.

D．Take advantage of your major.

E．In a club, you will be able to gain other important skills.

F．So don't just walk past those tables during clubs week.

G．And you might even get access to study skills and other academic advice.

    Decades of research has demonstrated how junior employees benefit from being mentored (指导). Guidance from senior colleagues has also been shown to enhance mentees' job performance and satisfaction.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    We were especially interested in understanding how mentoring might help mentors who work in stressful occupations. Mental health is a growing concern within occupations that play important social roles, such as medical professionals, firefighters, and police officers. And because policing is one of the most stressful occupations, with high levels of mental health and well-being difficulties, we conducted a study of a formal mentoring program in an English police force.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It was designed to support the development of junior officers by giving them a way to discuss concerns and receive guidance. Our study involved two parts. First, we conducted a field experiment: we compared the mental health of 17 mentor-mentee pairs to a control group of 18 pairs of senior and junior officers that did not participate in the program. Second, we interviewed both the mentees and their mentors separately.

    Our experiment results showed that people who served as mentors experienced lower levels of anxiety, and described their job as more meaningful, than those who did not mentor. We learned from our interviews that mentoring afforded senior officers, as well as junior officers, a chance to discuss and reflect on concerns. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}By acknowledging that these anxieties were common, both mentees and mentors grew more comfortable in discussing them and in sharing different coping mechanisms.

    Why does mentoring have this impact on mentors? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Despite the pressures that comes with their roles — including abuse, difficult decision making, and the risk of death — police officers tend not to seek support from other officers, including more senior colleagues. This is to avoid negative stigma, a shameful reputation, associated with mental health disorders. Mentoring thereby offered a way to build trust within a relationship that laid a foundation for open and honest communication of sensitive topics.

A. We believe it offers a way to receive support that is often lacking.

B. The mentoring program was launched in 2013 in one of the police forces in England and Wales.

C. Formal mentoring programs provide an opportunity to encourage the discussion of difficult and sensitive topics.

D. However, what we are wondering is why mentoring has such great impact on mentors as well as mentees.

E. Mentors heard their mentees' accounts of anxiety and realized these feelings — which they also shared — were common.

F. We know far less, however, about how mentoring might benefit mentors themselves.

    The sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have for getting rid of any source of stress in your life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} We can't over-estimate the importance of the sense of humor too much. In fact, making work fun helps employees perform best and provide quality work.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Telling jokes and stories and using team-building games in companies make people have more fun at work. Some companies even have talent shows or hold dance or sports competitions. It just gives employees a break in the day and a chance to laugh at themselves.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Humor should be about laughing with rather than laughing at others. We all have probably heard jokes that seemed to bother or hurt others. For example, jokes making fun of employees for their weight, race, religion, etc. are not only harmful to the person, but also can create an unfriendly working environment.

    Even if the jokes were intended to be humorous, they may not be received that way. I have even heard speakers make slight dirty jokes on the audience, thinking they would be seen as cool. In fact the audience thought the speakers had no taste. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In another case, I heard about a manager who was out partying with co-workers and kidding about how the boss liked certain people more than others. Such jokes actually had damaging effects on people in the company.

    Humor, if proper, can brighten up the workplace and reduce some of the stress we are all experiencing. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}